After the recent wind and rain, Skerries is covered in a thick, colourful carpet of fallen leaves. They look beautiful, but once they land on our paths, streets, roads, and in gutters, they can quickly turn from autumn glory to slippery hazard. Wet leaves make footpaths dangerous and can block drains, and we have all seen how they can lead to flooding, especially with the heavier rainfall we’re now experiencing. Fingal County Council do send road sweepers round, but that is not enough….
So what’s the most sustainable way to deal with all those leaves? The answer depends on where they are.
Leave the leaves — where it helps nature
If the leaves are in your flowerbeds, under shrubs, or on your vegetable patch, leave them there! They’ll protect the soil from winter rain, keep roots cosy, and feed the worms and insects that make our gardens thrive. Nature designed this system perfectly — no raking needed. With one exception: If there is a thick layer of wet leaves on a lawn or path, do remove them, as they can smother grass or become slippery.
Collect and compost — where they cause problems
Leaves swept from paths, pavements, or roadsides can be turned into leaf mould — a dark, crumbly soil improver that enriches our gardens and reduces waste.
But don’t put them in your normal compost heap: they take too long to break down. Your brown bin isn’t a good choice either, really, as they can fill up bins quickly.
Instead, you could bring them to a local leaf mould composting cage, if there is one nearby.
These cages are part of Fingal County Council’s Community Leaf Mould Composting Project, which helps neighbourhoods all over Fingal turn a waste problem into a valuable resource.
The council provides free wire cages, watering cans, and pitchforks, plus training and site visits to help communities get started. Here in Skerries, this project is coordinated by the Skerries Neighbourhoods Network (an initiative of the Skerries Community Association – see skerriesca.com/neighbourhoods).
If you’d like one in your area, please contact the network by email: network@skerriesca.com – this year, the deadline Fingal had set for new cages was 28 September, but their contractor, Craig, says there may be some available for a couple of extra Skerries locations in mid November.
At the moment, there are cages in Kelly’s Bay Rocks, Skerries Rock The Crescent, Greenlawns, The Haven and Downside. You will know them by
How to use the Leaf Mould Cages
Use the cages for wet deciduous leaves only. No branches, grass cuttings, or other green waste, please.
Keep the leaves damp. Sprinkle them with water if they’re dry — moisture is essential.
Stir it up! The pitchforks provided by the Fingal Leaf Mould Project help in doing that.
If there’s no cage nearby, collect your leaves in black plastic sacks or old compost bags, make a few holes in the sides, add a little water, and leave them in a corner for a year or two. The result: rich, weed-free leaf mould for your garden. This is also a great way to store leaves while waiting for a leaf mould cage!
Actually, that question is wrong – it should read: Who does it take to make Skerries one of the greenest places in Ireland?
And the answer is: Katie. Helen. Michael. Breda Sh. Breda N. Mary. Eamonn. Mags. John. Máire. Hans. Sara. Sabine. Charlie. Miriam. And those are only the ones who were actually around today to meet Mary Minehan, The Irish Times Features Editor and one of the Ireland’s Greenest Places judges. She was joined later on by photographer Alan Betson. And the aforementioned Skerries people met them in various locations for an extended show-and-tell…
And we realised: There is actually a lot in Skerries to give us hope in these uncertain times! Becoming active, doing something – together with dozens of others in our various groups – helps all of us. As Hans put it so eloquently (I paraphrase), doing something eco-friendly at home is all very well, but doing it with others and spreading the word can have a much, much bigger impact.
The groups include (but are not limited to): Sustainable Skerries, the Skerries Community Association, Skerries Cycling Initiative, Skerries Tidy Towns, the Skerries Community Garden, Skerries Autism Friendly Town, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative etc etc etc
And so we showed off our community centre with its Skerries Community Association wall design, biodiversity-friendly planters, water refill station, bike stands, mini bee garden, water butt, rainwater garden and of course the Skerries Eco Town wall. And we gave Mary a copy of the wonderful Skerries Eco Town Booklet. We talked about water management and climate policy and hope and bees.
We showed her the pollinator-friendly corridor, all the way from Skerries Mills to Ardgillan (and from Skerries Mills via the allotments to the South Strand). And the wonderful flower beds Tidy Towns are maintaining everywhere.
We stopped at the Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard and explained about our 150 fruit trees in 14 mini orchards. The pears are just one week or so away from being ripe, pity… and the plums are all gone… it still looked good!
We showed Mary and Alan (who joined us there) the beach toy library, talked some more about pollinators and met the Cycling Without Age Trishaw. Currachaí na Sceirí were mentioned and their litter-picking expeditions to the islands off our shore. And of course Foróige and the Skerries Men’s Shed, who both helped with the beach toy library.
We showed off Floraville and the sensory garden, that lovely oasis we owe Skerries Autism Friendly Town big thanks for. We explained about our work regarding consultations and submissions. About how we’re trying to reach people through our Instagram and YouTube channels.
We talked about the library and our hopes for repair cafés there in the future. And about the next big thing Skerries Tidy Towns are doing: The unveiling of a of a fabulous Mosaic in Floraville to celebrate the groundbreaking Supreme Court victory in December 1973, of Skerries woman Mary (May) McGee, which effectively legalized the sale and importation of contraceptives. What, you haven’t heard of that? It will be unveiled next Saturday, 30 August, 2 pm, and you’re all invited!
We probably mentioned more things than we should have in the 140 minutes The Irish Times spent with us… including all the Tidy Towns activities including their many cooperations with clubs and especially schools, a lot about active travel, more about pollinators (would you believe that we had The Irish Times actively hunting for the Large Carder Bee before the afternoon was over?!), the Community Garden, which we was looking really well (of course!).
And then it was way after 4 pm and we had to call it a day.
Will we be the greenest town in Ireland, according to The Irish Times? Maybe. Maybe not.
But we do think that we are making a difference, all these people who are active, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten half of the things we showed and mentioned and referred to. Such is life. It was fun – whatever the result, thank you for visiting, Alan and Mary! Actually, let me rephrase that: Even if we don’t win, thank you for visiting! But we would prefer to come first, to be honest...
Sustainable Skerries is inviting everybody in Skerries to enter the third Skerries Eco Fest Photo Challenge!
Deadline 31 July 2025.
And just like in previous years, we will select between 10 and 20 pictures to form the Skerries Eco Festival Photo Exhibition, on view from 23 September in Skerries Mills.
Naturally the focus will be on what is happening in the town to “lighten” its carbon and biodiversity footprint and to raise awareness about environmental challenges. Within this general guideline you are free to capture and submit any image you wish. Below are some possible topics to help you to focus. We are delighted to have local professional photographer and videographer Mark Broderick as our judge. Mark will select between ten and twenty images from all entries, which will be printed in A4 and exhibited in Skerries Mills from 23 September on for ten days, after which they will be presented to the photographers. Possible topics include:
Local Biodiversity – Highlight bees, birds, hedgehogs, or other wildlife thriving in eco-friendly spaces.
Getting Around Greener – Photos of walking, cycling, e-scooters, public transport.
Greener Energy- solar panels, solar-powered amenities…
Before-and-after shots of restored, repurposed or waste-avoiding initiatives, biodiversity corners etc. (please create a collage of 2-4 images in one picture for these )
Small Footprint Living – Passive houses, reusing material, water saving, insulation work, clothes drying outdoors….
The rules:
Photos – up to three from each entrant – must have been taken in 2024 or 2025.
Please note: If your photo features people, make sure you have received their permission to be photographed. (For guidance on this issue, visit dataprotection.ie)
Images must be emailed to sustskerries@gmail.com by 31 July 2025.
Important: To be printed successfully an image file must be at least 2MB in size. (Images that have been uploaded to WhatsApp at any stage are reduced in size and while they may look good on screen will not be suitable for printing.)
Best of luck. Remember: Deadline for submitting entries is 31 July 2025. Send your email to sustskerries@gmail.com Max of 3 entries per photographer. If you send us your pictures, you agree to allow us to use them online and in print, with acknowledgment of the photographer. (Thank you!)
We are grateful to the Progressive Credit Union for sponsoring this year’s Skerries Eco Festival Photo Challenge.
Our friends of the Wild Bee Festival had their fourth such festival in June 2025, and our committee member Hans Zomer put together a wonderful article plus a couple of short films, which we happily added to our YouTube channel, as it’s worth spreading what they are saying! Here is Hans’ article, a version of which was published in the latest edition of Skerries News.
Skerries Wild Bee Festival: A buzzing celebration of nature and community
Skerries was alive with excitement on 20-22 June 2025 as the Skerries Wild Bee Festival brought together nature lovers, biodiversity experts and local residents to celebrate and learn about our vital pollinators.
Organised by volunteers from the Skerries Mills Community Garden and funded by Fingal County Council, the festival highlighted the power of small actions in reversing the decline of bees and biodiversity.
The Skerries Wild Bee Festival organising committee includes members who are also part of Sustainable Skerries. The festival aligns closely with our aims: restoring biodiversity, protecting pollinators and encouraging community action for climate and nature.
The festival’s opening night featured a screening of “The Plight of the Bumblebee,” a documentary by Brenda Castles exploring the cultural and ecological importance of bees in Ireland, complete with live traditional music and interviews with bee advocates including Skerries’ own Charlie and Marion Heasman.
Other festival highlights included a passionate keynote from Professor Jane Stout, one of Ireland’s leading pollination ecologists, who praised Skerries for being “a shining example of community action for nature.”
Workshops, nature walks, and talks brought practical and hopeful solutions to life.
A walking tour of the Skerries Biodiversity Corridor showcased how local efforts, including Sustainable Skerries’ own pollinator-friendly planting and Open Orchards work, are making a real difference.
We applaud everyone involved in this inspiring event. It was a strong reminder that when we plant, protect and connect with nature we really can help our town thrive.
To learn more or get involved in Sustainable Skerries’ pollinator and biodiversity efforts, follow us on social media or drop by one of our upcoming events.
On Sunday 8th June 2025, coinciding with payment for Skerries Water-Safety week, Sustainable Skerries hosted its first Sustainable Swim Shop and Repair Café.
This event was inspired by a member of the public who contacted us after seeing our details on the beach toy library at the South Strand. Events like these are a great way to save money, reduce textile waste and protect the environment.
This one was enabled by the encouragement of the Skerries Water-Safety organising team, the support of the Community Centre (for dropping off items), the help of local repair expert Ann Mulligan, and volunteers from the Sustainable Skerries Committee. We really appreciated their help. Of course we could not have run this event without donations and we are very grateful to everyone who donated items before and during the event.
In total 25 items (wetsuits, swimwear, swim shoes) went to new homes and €77 was raised for local sustainability initiatives. We hope to run this event annually, building on the success of this year to encourage even more reuse of swim items going forwards.
Did you know that in Ireland, 110,000 tonnes of textiles are discarded every year? (Source: Textiles: National Attitudes & Behaviours Surveys | Environmental Protection Agency.) Re-using unwanted clothing, much of which is perfectly wearable (especially kids’ clothing that they’ve outgrown), is a great way to combat textile waste, protect the environment and save money. Similarly, items with minor wear and tear can be repaired and reused.
In July 2024, a lady emailed Sustainable Skerries asking if we would consider running a “wetsuit exchange.” She noted how kids’ wetsuits are often used for one summer, and then they outgrow them. She had seen our details on the sign at the then-recently launched beach toy library and decided to contact us. We thought it was a great idea, but felt it was too late to implement it for summer 2024. We mentioned it to one of the organisers of Skerries Water Safety week, who agreed and suggested we consider it for 2025, perhaps to coincide with Water Safety payment time.
Fast forward to 2025 (how time flies!) and the Skerries Water-Safety organising team kindly confirmed their support for this idea and let us know their payment date. By now, the idea had morphed from just wetsuits to swimming gear more generally.
So, our Sustainable Swim Shop and Repair Cafe will take place on Sunday 8th June, 10 am to 3 pm, under the awning outside the Little Theatre. All items €3. You can donate your clean wetsuits and swimming gear to the Community Centre on 5th, 6th, or 7th June. We will accept clothing in need of minor repair. You can also donate items on the day and/or bring them for repair. Repairs will take place in Room 1. All funds raised will go to Sustainable Skerries, supporting local sustainability initiatives. Thanks in advance for your support!
From May 12 to 18, Skerries will be buzzing with activity as part of Dublin Climate Action Week 2025. Whether you’re into hands-on workshops, nature walks, or engaging conversations, there’s something for everyone — all centred around building a more sustainable future together. Sustainable Skerries is delighted to be helping out with most of the following events:
🗓️ Highlight: Climate Conversations with Jacinta Barrins
Wednesday 14 May, 5:30–6:30 PM – Skerries Little Theatre. Reserve your space – and bring a friend!
Come for the tea, stay for the conversation. This is not your usual climate talk. Join Jacinta Barrins — retired UN diplomat and founder of the 60+ Climate Drive — for an informal and energising session on how our everyday actions (like boiling the kettle) tie into climate science. Jacinta brings warmth, clarity and decades of global experience to the room. You’ll leave better informed, more hopeful, and maybe even inspired to make a change or two.
Saturday 17 May, 12:00–2:00 PM – Departing from Mourne Community Centre. No registration needed!
Discover local nature with a guided walk through Skerries’ green spaces. Learn about our flora, fauna, and what we can do to protect them. Led by local biodiversity legends Charlie and Marion Heasman of Sustainable Skerries and the Skerries Mills Community Gardens.
Come join us for a fun and informative nature walk exploring the local flora and fauna in our area. We will start at the Mourne Estate Community Centre and walk towards the Ballast Pit. This will be a lovely way to connect with nature. All are welcome. Wear boots or good walking shoes and be prepared for the possibility of a rain shower.
➡️ Skerries Nature Walk Sat 17 May, 12 noon, Mourne Community Centre: No registration needed, all welcome!
Turn an old T-shirt into a tote bag with the Rediscovery Centre. Sustainable fashion made fun and useful! Note: This event is nearly full — don’t wait to book.
Saturday 17 May, 2:00–4:00 PM – Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard. No registration needed.
Join us at Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard as we tend to the oldest and largest mini orchard in the Skerries Open Orchard Project. We’ll kick off with a short introduction to the thinking behind our mini orchards and how they support biodiversity and climate action in Skerries. Then it’s time to roll up our sleeves! We’ll be clearing unwanted growth from around the base of the trees, giving them some well-deserved food and compost, and watering them. After our hands-on orchard care, we’ll make our way back to Mourne View Community Centre for some well-earned refreshments. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and dress for the weather.
➡️ Sat 17 May, 2 pm, Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard (next to the bus stop): No need to book for the orchard session – just turn up!
All events are free, but booking is essential for some. Let’s make Climate Action Week in Skerries a time to connect, learn, and act — together.
Or in full: How to Feel Less Guilty About Climate Change and Make Some Money
Guest Post by Adrian Kelly, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative
Are you feeling guilty about the climate catastrophe and feeling powerless to do anything about it? Well did you know you’re not really “power”less and shock horror you can actually gain financially by taking more control of your “power” Society’s challenge of getting to net zero carbon emissions is almost entirely dependent on decarbonising the electricity grid and shifting the electricity grid to renewables. But all of this starts at home. Here’s six steps to feeling less guilty about the state of the climate with the added benefit of making yourself some extra money for you and your family.
Step 1 – Reduce your Electricity Use in General
Feel less guilty: Burning less fossil fuel to power your lifestyle. Make Money: Your electricity bills will reduce, important as electricity prices rise over time and financial supports from government for electricity bills may no longer be available. Be conscious of how and when your family using electricity. But focus on the big electricity guzzlers such as appliances (use eco modes), electric showers (don’t stay too long), kettles (boil only what you need) ovens (use air fryers instead). Before next winter switch your lighting to LED. With a smart meter you can access your electricity data for every 30 minute period from ESB networks by signing up here: https://www.esbnetworks.ie/services/manage-my-meter/view-my-smart-meter-usage
If you are working on step 1 – well done! Feels good eh? Now let’s keep going, we can do much better!
Step 2 – Use Less Electricity at the Evening Peak
Feel less guilty: Peak electricity is almost entirely fossil fuelled, and you are helping reduce electricity prices.
Make Money: Get paid vouchers regularly by ESB Networks for reducing power when they ask you to. Particularly in winter, the period between 5PM – 7PM is the most expensive for grid operators as this is the time everyone turns on lights, ovens. So, build on step 1, try to drastically reduce your use in this period. You almost certainly don’t your washing machine or dishwashers running at this time, although your air fryer is harder to avoid using! Can you delay a post work or exercise electric shower until after 7PM? Sure, you can! ESB offer an incentive scheme to periodically reduce your electricity use during stressed periods. They text you, you reduce your use, complete a one-question survey and they email you a voucher. So, you can get rewarded for conscientious electricity use.
https://www.esbnetworks.ie/services/manage-my-energy-use/beat-the-peak-programme/ Feeling less guilty and getting paid for it and we’re only at step 2! Step 3 – Shift your Electricity Use to the Middle of the Night Feel less guilty: Electricity in the middle of the night is much more likely to be renewable wind energy that would be wasted otherwise. Make Money: With a time of use tariff electricity used in the middle of the night is about 25% of the cost of daytime electricity. Especially important for EV drivers.
Illustrative example of electricity uses in Ireland during a typical December day and April day. The more electricity used the more expensive it is for everybody so its best if we can sift evening peak load to the middle of the night Source for Data: EirGrid Electricity (unfortunately) has to be consumed exactly when it’s produced (mostly) so the grid is always in a constant state of equilibrium. Luckily, people are habitual and generally use electricity at the same times every day. However, this poses a challenge for maximising use of renewable generation. The sun doesn’t always shine, and the wind doesn’t always blow hard when we need it (5-7 PM in winters remember?). It’s an open secret that we waste massive amounts of electricity at night when the wind is strong, and demand is low. You can help this situation by shifting your use of electricity from daytime to nighttime. Set appliance timers to come on between 2 AM-5AM. Electricity supply companies incentivise this shifting by offering tariffs that are expensive between 5-7 PM (about 40-50c) and cheap between 2-5 AM (5-10c).If you have an EV or hybrid car and do significant driving, you might want to consider a time-of-use tariff set to charge at night to avail of the cheaper rate. Even if you don’t use a time of use your charger to come on during the night to use this excess wind energy. The cost of charging a 77 kWh EV (a VW ID4) from 0-100% over four nights (25% per night) at 7c per kWh is €5.88. Thats about €0.01 per km (assuming a 400-500 km range). The equivalent spend for a patrol car is between €0.11 per km or €0.08 c for a diesel car, according to the SEAI statistics.
Example of a time of use tariff and energy use. Source Bord Gais Energy Now you’re becoming an active electricity user, but you can do even better! Step 4 – Use the Sun to Power your Home Feel less guilty: Power your home directly from free, clean solar energy, becoming less dependent on fossil fuel powered grid electricity. Make Money: While the initial outlay can be considerable, the cost savings period is reducing, when compared to continuously rising higher electricity prices. You’ve probably seen black solar PV panels covering the roofs of Ireland in the past couple years and wondered what’s the deal? While we don’t get year-round sun we do get daylight for most waking hours for 6 months of the year. With reduced cost of PV technology and incentives and a range of very good installers, installing rooftop PV is economical with payback periods of less than 10-12 years typically (and lower depending on how you maximise the use of the panels). An 8-10 panel system will cover most electricity use for most houses, especially from March-October. The systems can also be configured to heat immersion hot water systems when over producing so you have always on hot water. Once installed you don’t need to think about it (except to use your heavy-duty appliances when it’s sunny) but you can track usage with cool phone apps. At this stage you are using clean free energy to power your home but there’s also an added benefit.
Solar PV panels on a rooftop Source CC Step 5 – Get Paid for your Excess Solar Electricity Feel less guilty: The excess solar power you produce is not wasted, sent back to the grid and likely to be used locally to power their homes and businesses. Make Money: You get paid directly by your electricity supplier via credits on your bills every quarter. Handy when the winter bills arrive. that electricity produced always has to be consumed instantaneously? Unlike the wind power at night which cannot be used if there is no demand, domestic solar production has no such issue as everybody is up and using electricity in the middle of the day. Any excess electricity you produce gets automatically sent back out to the grid and you now actually get paid for it. At the moment the price is somewhere between 15c-20c per kWh sent out, depending on your supplier. This is typically aggregated and paid as a credit on your electricity bill every quarter. So if you have 8 solar panels fully producing for an hour you get about €0.56 back. Not bad but scale that out over multiple hours, multiple days during summer and the savings add up to hundreds of euros. This will be useful in winter isn’t shining and your electricity use is higher. The more you can produce, the shorter your payback period for the installation will be! Step 6 – Store your Energy Feel less guilty: Become entirely self-sufficient and less reliant on fossil fuel grid, with your home powered by clean energy, even when the sun isn’t shining. Make Money: Over the long run, your electricity bills will reduce, and you will be less exposed to electricity price hikes and reductions in the revenue from the excess production. Your final step to becoming a true electricity prosumer (producer-consumer) is to put it all together with a domestic battery system. Most solar PV installers will offer the option to install a domestic battery system with your PV system. These systems allow you to use your excess solar energy to charge a battery in your home (before sent to the grid) and discharge it when the sun isn’t shining, or during expensive periods (5PM-7PM) if you use a smart . For example, if you have an EV and rooftop solar PV system with a battery you could charge up your battery with excess solar energy during the midday solar peak, and then when the sun goes down, discharge the battery to charge some of your car battery (if you do this in the middle of the night it’s likely you will charge your car from fully renewable sources). In winter if you are of-use tariff the battery can be set to charge in the middle of the night at a lower cost and to discharge between 5-7 PM which offsets the difference in electricity price, and maximises clean energy use. Battery systems will increase your revenue, as it will reduce the amount of money you spend on electricity, but they do cost more so will likely increase your payback period for the entire system. The precise revenue, costs and payback times are dependent on well you optimise your energy use in your home. Additionally, batteries can provide resilience your home. By installing a switch on the battery, it can be used to power your home during grid outage periods. So, there you have it…6 steps to maximising your use of clean electricity in the home, reducing your electricity costs, and doing your bit for the environment and the next generations while feeling less dread. While your home might seem small, relative to the world, taking a stepwise approach harnesses the power of collective efficacy – where small steps taken by everybody add up to a sustainable, resilient energy system. An energy system we are not just a part of, but in control of. So, which step are you on? Be part of the community oin the SSECI WhatsApp chat for Q&A, advice and helpful hints: https://bit.ly/SSECI-Chat Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/skerriesseci/ Email: skerries.seci@gmail.com
Too often, public consultations are dominated by negative feedback—and while it’s vital to raise concerns, it’s just as important to show support when something good is being proposed. At Sustainable Skerries, we believe in speaking up for the environment, active travel and (indeed) sustainability.
That’s why we made a submission in favour of Fingal County Council’s Harbour Road and Red Island Loop plans. We encourage others who welcome these improvements to say so, too—because positive voices can help make sure thoughtful, community-focused plans are actually carried out.
Below is the full text of our submission, which we understand should be listed as Submission 59 on the Fingal County Council consultation portal. Although it has not yet appeared online, we have received an official acknowledgement of receipt.
Sustainable Skerries welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Harbour Road Public Realm Enhancements and the Red Isla seend Loop proposals. Like our previous submission overall we strongly support these proposals.
The Skerries Harbour Road and Red Island Loop Scheme, proposed by Fingal County Council, will result in a positive transformation of the Red Island peninsula, turning the area into a pedestrian-friendly, accessible and safe space for everyone. We are particularly pleased with the proposed measures to improve walking and cycling infrastructure, and make the Harbour Road more pedestrian-friendly, and we note that all evidence shows that initiatives like this boost local economies, improve air quality and public health, and improve social interaction in the community.
Accessibility and Safety
We welcome the focus on improved accessibility for residents of Skerries with mobility issues including dedicated closer parking for accessible and age-friendly parking, in addition to drop-off points outside businesses and residential spots. We note the need to look at facilitating hidden disability parking within the scheme.
The delivery of proper segregated pedestrian/cycling where feasible is also welcome. We are pleased to see the significant ways in which the project will enhance safety where there is shared space between car users, pedestrians and other active travel users. Additional space for pedestrians on Harbour Road will make walking there a far safer and nicer experience for locals and visitors alike. Currently, people often need to step out onto the road to avoid the crowded footpath.
The addition of a footpath on the seaward side of Harbour Road and the proposed speed limit of 30 kph will make that area safer and more enjoyable for all. The traffic which was caused by people searching for one of the limited car parking spaces on Harbour Road often resulted in unsafe situations. Such situations should be avoided with the proposed changes as people will know to plan for drop offs rather than parking on that road.
Similarly, a pedestrianised area near Storm in a Teacup will make that area much safer for families and children. It is a pity that there is not enough space on the Harbour Road to allow for segregated cycle paths, but we accept that the shared-space solution can work, and welcome the segregated cycle paths on what is called the Red Island Loop. These cycle paths will also make the area safer and more attractive for cyclists, for whom there is currently little encouragement to use the area.
Segregated cycle paths on Red Island will also facilitate children learning to ride their bikes. We note that the plans will also enable access for emergency vehicles to reach the Captains and Springers swimming areas, which is again positive for safety. We welcome the effort to which the Council have gone to engage specific users of the public space to ensure the enhancements do not impede their ability to operate.
Biodiversity
We are strongly supportive of the biodiversity aspects within the plan such as native planting, wildflower beds and the use of environmentally friendly materials. We hope that the wildflower beds are going to be managed as per best practice (e.g. cutting the grass once a year and lifting what has been cut; see https://biodiversityireland.ie/practical-advice-on-managing-wildflower-meadows/ though this will have to be adapted for narrow strips).
We also like the planting plans for Harbour Road, which includes trees where at the moment there are none, and encourage Fingal County Council to select species that can best withstand the sometimes harsh conditions so close to the sea. It would be great if the public could be informed about the trees used, e.g. by small signs, so that those living near the coast could see real-life examples of trees and possibly shrubs that do well there, such as hawthorn, scots pine, etc.
We welcome the change in the lighting plans for Red Island since the previous consultation, which will leave it partly unlit to the benefit of wildlife and stargazers.
We also ask for strong litter controls including a net or mesh on the seaward side of the route near the harbour to prevent further sea pollution. Additional litter bins throughout the area and “leave no trace” type signage at the entry and exit points of the walking/cycle routes would also be helpful.
Water Management
We are very excited about the prospect of rainwater planting, which will minimise surface water run-off and improve our seawater quality and welcome the inclusion of Sustainable Urban Drainage, bioswales and rain gardens, including permeable parking. where feasible. We ask that the Council consider permeable parking in the spaces prone to flooding in the first car park on the left before the playground. This would have limited impact on the desire to colour code that car park for accessibility reasons etc.
Final Comment
Understandably there are concerns about some aspects of this proposal. We refer to the previous submission number c766 – 46 by Hans Zomer, Skerries Harbour Road | Fingal County Council Online Consultation Portal. He notes the research which shows that, whilst initially there may be resistance to infrastructure changes, acceptance typically increases after implementation when people start to see the benefits such as improved safety, cleaner environments, greater livability and economic benefits. He quotes several studies on this topic which are worth referencing.
We were so encouraged by the turnout for our 2025 Annual Meeting! All seats were filled that night. Our various team leads reported on a very busy year, and gave some tasters for the year ahead: Biodiversity projects, walks and talks, our open orchards project, the beach toy box, summer camp, submissions made to Fingal County Council and at national level, the Skerries Eco Festival and and and… (Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop with what’s going on!)
Skerries Eco Town Booklet Launch
The Skerries Eco Town Booklet was launched on the night as well. It was made possible through the support of the Progressive Credit Union and Gerry’s Fresh Food. The booklet has lots of tips for individuals, families, householders including information from many local groups such as Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Cycling Initiative, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community, Skerries Community Centre and of course our umbrella organisation, the Skerries Community Association – SCA, as well as BirdWatch Ireland Fingal, the Stream Huggers and the Skerries Mills Community Garden.
And it looks beautiful, with illustrations by Niamh Sharkey throughout. Edited by committee member Sara Reddy. If you haven’t been lucky enough to receive one through the letterbox (we were able to cover about 900 Skerries households this way), you can pick up a copy at Skerries Community Centre (reception) and at the Skerries library.
What an energising guest speaker!
Adrian Kelly, part of the Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative, held the full attention of his audience during his talk on “Sustainable Energy and You: Production and Consumption of Electricity in Ireland – Towards a Sustainable Energy Future.”
There was such good feedback, and there were so many interested questions following his talk that he promised us a written version, which we will publish on our website as soon as we get it. Thank you, Adrian!
Our new chair, Katie Lattimore
We are delighted to introduce our new chair, Katie Lattimore, at the Annual Meeting. Katie took over the reins from Sabine McKenna, who had been chair for the previous 4.5 years, in early February. Katie writes:
I’m excited to introduce myself as the new chair of Sustainable Skerries. As I step into this role, I am filled with enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility to support the continuation of the exemplary work already completed by the committee and its supporters.
A little about me: I grew up in Loughshinny and now live in Skerries with my husband and son. I am currently on maternity leave from my job as a paediatric physiotherapist. I’ve always had a passion for the environment and for the outdoors, and I have a keen interest in exploring ways to minimize my negative impact on the planet. This passion has led me here, where I have the privilege of contributing to our efforts to make a meaningful difference in our community.
I look forward to working alongside such a passionate group of individuals, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together. I want to sincerely thank the outgoing chair, Sabine, for all the wonderful work she has done while holding the position and for her words of encouragement in my volunteering for the role. We are so lucky that Sabine will be continuing work on her other ongoing projects on the committee.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any ideas or questions – I’m always open to hearing from you.
Sustainable Skerries 